Peach tree, Pampaian&#39;s Late Babcock

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct peach tree denominated as &#34;Pampaian&#39;s Late Babcock&#34; generally resembling the Giant Babcock Peach Tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,353) but bearing fruit ripening about one month later and having a distinctly-colored, roughly-textured suture line.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peachtree denominated varietally as "Pampaian's Late Babcock" and which isgenerally similar to the Giant Babcock Peach Tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No.1,353) of which it is a sport but from which it is distinguished as tonovelty by its bearing of fruit which ripens approximately one monthlater and has a distinctive suture line readily distinguishable from thesurrounding skin coloration.

The Giant Babcock Peach Tree is well known as a vigorous producer oflarge, predominantly red-skinned fruit having ivory, freestone fleshstreaked outwardly from the stone with shades of red and maturing inmid-July. Further, the fruit of the Giant Babcock Peach Tree has longbeen known as having a good eating quality and sweet flavor.

Therefore, it has long been recognized that it would be desirable tohave a peach tree generally resembling the Giant Babcock, but whichbears fruit later in the season, whereby the commercial demand forlarge, white-fleshed peaches can effectively be satisfied over a greaterperiod of time.

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

For approximately twenty-five years, I have searched my own orchards ofpeach trees in an attempt to locate a late-ripening peach having whiteflesh. In 1981, during such a search, I was successful in discoveringseveral peaches on a single limb of a Giant Babcock Peach Tree (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 1,353) in an orchard owned by me located at the corner ofAlta and Clayton Avenues, near the City of Reedley, in the County ofFresno, in the State of California.

I asexually reproduced the new variety by budding it onto a Lovell PeachTree in the same orchard in 1981. The fruit and tree characteristicsresulting from such budding proved identical to those of the originalsport.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

The instant variety of peach tree is characterized by perpetuating manyof the desirable characteristics of the Giant Babcock Peach Tree, buthas the important distinctions of bearing fruit ripening approximatelyone month later than that of the Giant Babcock. The suture line is darkred in coloration and the white flesh of the fruit has a red colorationradiating therethrough from the suture line toward the center of thefruit. The flesh of the fruit is of a firmer texture than that of theGiant Babcock, and is borne on a slightly longer stem which makes itpossible for the fruit to remain on the tree longer and thus achieveimproved ripening characteristics.

The tree of the instant variety is a vigorous, productive and regularbearer of fruit having an average cheek diameter of 74 mm and having asymmetrical configuration. The skin of the fruit exhibits a Light Red(Plate 1-E-10) to Dark Red (Plate 4-I-10) blush on a Cream-colored(Plate 17-E-1) ground color. Some light color striping parallel to theventral suture and on the dorsal side is seen. The ventral suture isDark Red (Plate 4-K-10). The flesh of the fruit is white to slightlyPink (Plate 4-B-8) with some Red coloration (Plate 4-L-8) at the pitcavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing is a color photograph of two mature fruit ofthe subject variety, one of which has been divided in the suture planeto show the flesh, stone and pit cavity characteristics, together with atwig bearing representative leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new anddistinct variety of peach tree, the following has been observed underthe ecological conditions prevailing in the designated orchard inReedley, Calif. All major color code plate identifications are byreference to the Dictionary of Color, by A. Maerz and M. Paul, SecondEdition, published in 1950.

TREE

Vigor: Vigorous.

Productivity: Productive.

Regularity of bearing: Regular.

Branches:

Size.--Medium.

Surface texture.--Medium.

Color.--Older shoots -- Reddish-brown (Plate 5-H-10); Young shoots --Light Green (Plate 17-G-5).

Leaves:

Size.--Medium.

Length.--13.5 cm, average.

Width.--3.5 cm, average.

Shape.--Lanceolate.

Color.--Upper surface -- Green (Plate 23-J-6). Lower surface -- LightGreen (Plate 21-F-4) with light yellow-green midrib vein (Plate 17-G-2).

Marginal form.--Crenate.

Petiole.--Length -- 9 mm, average; thickness -- 1 to 1.5 mm.

Stem glands.--Number -- 3 to 5.

Arrangement.--Usually alternate.

Size.--Medium.

Type.--Reniform.

Color.--Light Green (Plate 18-I-4) when young, becoming darker with age.

Stipules.--Present, early deciduous.

Flower buds:

Size.--Medium.

Shape.--Conical.

Surface.--Pubescent.

FRUIT

Maturity:

First pick in 1983.--August 16.

Last pick in 1983.--August 21.

Size: Medium to large.

Average cheek diameter.--74 mm.

Average suture diameter.--77 mm.

Average axial diameter.--71 mm.

Form:

Symmetry.--Symmetrical, uniform.

Suture.--Distinct, slightly raised and calloused, band averaging 6 mm inwidth, extending from apex to base.

Color of suture.--Moderately Dark Red (Plate 4-K-10).

Ventral surface.--Smooth across surface, not lipped.

Stem cavity.--Broad, average length -- 33 mm; average width -- 21 mm;oval in outline.

Base.--Rounded at right angle to fruit axis.

Apex.--Depressed.

Pistil point.--Apical.

Stem.--Size -- Medium. Average length -- 9 mm. Average thickness -- 3 to4 mm.

Skin:

Thickness.--Average.

Texture.--Average.

Tendency to crack.--None observed.

Color.--Cream (Plate 17-E-1) covering an average of 15 to 20 percent ofsurface.

Blush.--Light Red (Plate 1-D-10) to Dark Red (Plate 4-I-10). Color bothwashed and mottled in pattern. Some light color striping parallel toventral suture and on dorsal side.

Pubescence.--Light, short.

Flesh:

Color.--White to slightly Pink (Plate 4-B-8) with Red coloration (Plate4-L-8) at pit cavity. Red coloration radiating from suture line tocenter of fruit.

Amygdalin.--Lacking.

Juice.--Moderate.

Flavor.--Sweet, low acid.

Aroma.--Slight.

Texture.--Firm, crisp.

Fibers.--Numerous, white, moderately long.

Ripening.--Ripens first along suture.

Eating quality.--Good.

Stone:

Adhesion.--Full freestone.

Fibers.--Few.

Size.--Medium; average length -- 28 mm; average width -- 25 mm; averagethickness -- 20 mm.

Form.--Oval to very slightly obovate.

Base.--Slightly truncated.

Sides.--Nearly equal.

Ridges.--Rounded, stronger along ventral suture at mid-stone.

Grooves.--Moderate in number over basal shoulder converging basally.

Color.--Dark Brown (Plate 7-H-10) with slight purplish tinge.

Splitting tendency.--None.

Use: Fresh market for local or long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Good.

Shipping quality: Not yet shipped in any quantity.

Resistance to disease: No particular susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the growing conditions prevailing in FresnoCounty, Calif., in the central portion of the San Joaquin Valley, it isto be understood that variations of the usual magnitude incharacteristics incident to changes in growing conditions,fertilization, pruning and pest control are to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of peach tree, whatI claim as new and desire to secure by Plant Letters Patent is:
 1. A newand distinct variety of peach tree, substantially as illustrated anddescribed, characterized by its bearing of freestone fruit having whiteflesh and by its general resemblance to the Giant Babcock Peach Tree(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,353) from which it is distinguished by itsbearing of fruit maturing approximately one month later than that of theGiant Babcock and having a distinctive suture having a dark redcoloration radiating through the flesh in the suture plane toward thestone.